CHELSEA END AN EMBARRASING WINDOW WITH DRINKWATER SIGNATURE
Years ago, every player wanted to go to Stamford bridge. Yes the lure of the money was a factor but under Mourinho, Ancelloti, players really wanted to sign and play for Chelsea.
So what happened during this transfer window?
Why are the players avoiding the bridge?
Rudiger, emerging talents Bakayoko, Moratta, were the only new arrivals at the bridge. Zapacosta and Drinkwater became last minute panic additions in what characterised a weak, or at best average transfer window by Chelsea’s standards.
Worrying….the type of players and football that is being created at Stamford Bridge, and even more worrying when players refuse to come: Bonnuci declined a reunion with his former boss, Romelu Lukaku refused to come back home, rather preferring to sign for ‘a big club in Manchester United’. Oxlade Chamberlain,s club personal terms and fee before Oxlade said ‘Sorry I want to play for Jurgen Klopp’. Fernando Llorente was driven to London enrolee to stamford Bridge before his car also re-routed to White Hart Lane and bizarrely, Ross Barkley was awaited on for his medical when he suddenly claimed ‘the evil you know is better than the one you don’t know’
Really? Embarrassing? Frustrated? Disappointing? Worrying?
Looking like the players don’t want to play catenacio…….
Something is fundamentally wrong at Chelsea at the moment.
I am not sure all the players are at ease with Conte’s style – he is playing Catenacio truly with almost seven defenders each game –
if it is extremely boring on the training grounds. Doing repeated drills to perfection daily – especially with young players – is not most players’ cup if tea. Could this be a factor in player’s decisions to turn down the bridge?
Footballers want to have fun and not have regimental drills on the training ground day in day out. The players do forge bonds with colleagues in National team, talk to friends at other clubs, so I am curious to know what the word is on the street about Conte’s training methods and management style.
You cannot be champions and have potential like Chelsea do and still fail to attract big players, upcoming players and emerging talents; Lukaku, Oxlade, Llorrente & Barkley all turned down Chelsea for other clubs.
Chelsea lost Matic, Zouma, Costa and never really got players that they wanted.
Solanke also insisted he wasn’t staying, Chalobah said he wanted out, Abrahams went to Swansea and Loftus-Cheek went to South London.
But if they know the system would not give them the opportunities they want as well, why would they want to stay?
Conte’s style accommodates six to seven defenders/defensive minded players almost and one goalkeeper.
This leaves only three positions for three flair players ; and with Hazard, Pedro, Willian, Moratta, Fabregas and Béatshuayi
So if you’re a striker or a midfielder where do you want to fit in?
Conte makes mostly like for like substitutions and rarely changes his style
It would be difficult for any new player arriving
It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the next few months; Conte didn’t extend his contract by a day, but just increased his salary as both parties renegotiated after the just concluded Championship season.
Knowing Roman Abramovich, he may soon start shifting uneasily in his seat, he has always demanded attractive football so it would be interesting to see what happens if Conte continues his Catenaciao at the expense of the football that the Boss desires.
TOTTENHAM REACT ALBEIT LATE AS USUAL
Tottenham’s late capture of Aurier from PSG and Llorente from Swansea is another fantastic piece of business, add Davidson Sanchez from Ajax and you can argue that Spurs have taken one step forward in their pursuit of a league title.
Llorente will give them plan B if plan A is not going to plan, especially if and when Erikssen disappears from the game and Dele
Alli can’t find the spaces in between opposition defence and midfield.
If Pochettino can put a leash on Aurier and ensures he can remain disciplined on and off the field, also put of the media spotlight and unwanted news.com, Aurier can be the replacement Spurs finally have for Walker.
Last week after watching Spurs against Chelsea I said unless they find a right back and left back to play like Walker and Rose,
they would struggle to topple last two season’s achievements.
Well, with Danny Rose due back soon as well, they seem to have turned the corners on the wing back issues.
Sanchez is a fantastic central defender who can go on to become one of Europe’s
Finest even though he is still young, but time will tell as he adapts to the Premier League.
WBA AND SWANSEA ARE DARK HORSES
The fight to beat relegation has already started at Swansea and to stay afloat, Pulis has also been doing shrewd business in the market
That Clement can attract Sanchez Renato from Bayern Munich and bring Wilfred Bony back from the dead is a good testament to the work Clement is doing at Swansea.
Even with the departure of Sigurdsson, I still expect good things to happen this year at Swansea.
CAN THIS ARSENAL GOOSE CONTINUE TO LAY THE GOLDEN EGGS?
No champions league football, players wanting to leave, fans calling for the end of Wenger
Okay not all alone as he has the backing of the board, majority shareholders and company directors.
But to think a club as huge as Arsenal couldn’t convince Oxlade Chamberlain to stay, couldn’t convince Lemar to come, have not been able to convince Sanchez and Ozil to extend their contracts?
The coffee is smelling at the Emirates and the board had better smell it before the house burns down.
If there was a time that Arsenal need to think and work outside the box to turn the club’s fortunes around, it has to be now.
I won’t go back to the Liverpool game as I e already commented on that.
It is beyond one game now, and it’s about a big club that may just disappear into the middle of the league after this dust settles next June, if the board refuse to act.
For the directors and majority shareholders who have refused to act; events this transfer window may truly be the prologue to the death of the goose that lays the golden eggs, for come next June there may be no more eggs to flog.
CLUB POWER KEEPS CONTINUES TO KEEP AT BAY
The truth remains that whatever anyone may say otherwise, clubs still hold the power until a player reaches his final year of contract – and in Arsenal’s case, even in that final year they want to hold on to that power regardless of the disastrous consequences – as evident in this just concluded transfer window.
Unless something was agreed that we don’t know in Spain (their transfer window shuts in a few hours) Philippe Coutinho will remain a Liverpool player as reiterated by Liverpool owners. Riyad Mahrez will remain in Leicester, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will be playing for Arsenal at least until December and Virgil VanDyke will be at Southampton until further notice.
So why have the clubs refused to sell and had their way? It’s a simple thing; if a player does not insert a sum in his contract for his release clause, another team cannot buy him from his current employers unless the club wants to sell. In a World Cup year it’s even more difficult for the player as the player would not have a choice but to perform at the highest standards so as to be selected for their country.
There you go as we end another exciting transfer window.
My intuition? Players and agents would soon wise up to that and we may well begin to see shorter contracts for players and big release clauses insisted upon by clubs… The world goes round I guess and we would be back to where we started from, perhaps? Less money for transfers.
Another fantastic piece, If as you say, that Red Rom is not comfortable with catenaccio, but would rather prefer tiki taka style of play,and Comte did not extend his contract. Don’t be surprised if Wenger ends up at Stamford bridge.!!! You heard it here first?
Duke! Wenger at Stamford bridge? The bridge would collapse 🙂 Yes I agree things are not altogether well at the bridge and I know that Rom does not enjoy Conte’s style, but he cannot change. The league title covered up a multitude of sins last year, but with champions league football this year, ain’t no place to hide….